The Pickett Trophy

Introduction

"Well, it
made you immortal." -- Confederate General John
Singleton Mosby, consoling George E. Pickett

The General George E. Pickett Memorial Trophy for Valiant, Futile Stupidity
honors the service of a lost cause during Usenet debate. It is named for General
George Pickett, and the Confederacy's disastrous Pickett's Charge at the
1863 Battle of Gettysburg.

Winning the Pickett Trophy requires the sacrifice of common sense, decency, and
reputation to lose an unwinnable argument, to succumb an imperceptible slight, or
flail at an insurmountable barrier.

History: The history of the Pickett Trophy including
its original proposal and creation.

Rules: Eligibility requirements, voting procedures, and
how and when the Pickett Trophy is awarded.

Winners: The all-time list of those who have been unfortunate
enough to "win" Pickett's unique breed of immortality.

Links: More Usenet awards and award sites, the science
of Kookology, and more on General Pickett and Pickett's Charge.